Workshop on medicinal plants held in Hassan

Hassan: The Department of Botany, Hassan University, in collaboration with the Karnataka State Medicinal Plant Authority and Biodiversity Board recently organized a one-day state level workshop on “Southern Arid Zone awareness programme.”

The workshop was conducted on 8 January 2025 in order to bring awareness among students regarding local medicinal plants and their importance in the life of humankind.

The target group was undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Around 120 academicians also participated in the programme.

The workshop was presided over by Prof. T.C. Tharanath, Vice- Chancellor of Hassan University, who spoke about “Biodiversity and conservation of Medicinal Plants” on the occasion.

The Chief Guest of the programme was B.A. Jagadeesh, Registrar of Hassan University.

In his speech, he spoke about the different biodiversity hotspots in the state and their importance in maintaining a healthy ecological system.

Dr. M.J. Prabhu, Senior Medicinal Plant Consultant, Karnataka State Medicinal Plant Authority, presented the keynote address.

He explained the importance of medicinal plants in day-to-day life, and the threats professionals were facing in the course of conservation and cultivation of such plants.

Technical sessions were conducted by Dr. M.J Prabhu, Ms. Poorvika, a Botanist, K.N Prabhu, an Agricultural consultant, and Manjuprasad, another expert in the field of agriculture.

On the occasion, a field visit was organised within the Hemagangotri campus itself to enumerate and document medicinal plants available on campus.

The entire programme was coordinated by Ms. Shalini A.T. and Ms. Kumari.

Academicians and field experts from Mysore University, Mangalore University, Bangalore University, Kuvempu University and Hassan University participated in the event.